Fire Ban Issued For Santa Clara County

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Cal Fire has issued a ban on all outdoor burning for three Bay Area counties and parts of two others, effective at 8 a.m. Wednesday, because of extreme fire conditions. The ban will remain in effect until further notice.

According to Cal Fire, "The ban includes all burning in the State Responsibility Areas within Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties and the western portions of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties."

That means, effective immediately:

• No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be permitted.
• Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel and propane or gas fire pits will be permitted.
• Visitors to campgrounds must clear all flammable material for ten feet in all directions from their camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove always during use.
• Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or a designated Campfire Use Site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

-Image by Autumn Johnson, Patch